Prayer for DuHope

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, You are our Provider, our Healer, and our Redeemer. You have not only chosen a day for us to humble ourselves in fasting, but the kind of fasting You have chosen is for us to loose the chains of injustice, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke. You desire that we share our food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter, that we clothe the naked when we see them, and that we not turn away from our own flesh and blood. LORD, use our prayers as an offering to do all these things.

LORD, allow light to break forth like the dawn and healing quickly to appear, righteousness to go before us, and Your glory to be the rear guard of these women who are desperately in need of freedom from oppression. When we call, You will answer us on their behalf; we cry for help for them and You say: “Here am I.” LORD, do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and allow us to spend ourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed. Cause their light to rise in the darkness, and their night to become like the noonday. LORD, guide them always, satisfying their needs in a sun-scorched land and strengthening their frames. May they be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Help them to rebuild the ruins, even the ancient ruins in Rwanda, and raise up the age-old foundations. You are their Repairer of Broken Walls, their Restorer of Streets with Dwellings (adapted from Isaiah 58:5-12, NIV).

Sovereign LORD, Your Spirit anointed Your Son to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and Your day of vengeance. LORD Jesus, comfort all who mourn and provide for those who have grieved much in Rwanda. Bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. May they be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of Yours, LORD, for the display of Your splendor. May they rebuild the places long devastated, even for generations. May they be priests of Yours, LORD, ministers of You, our God. Instead of their shame, may they receive a double portion. May they rejoice in their inheritance instead of disgrace. May everlasting joy be theirs. For You love justice, LORD; You hate robbery and wrongdoing. In Your faithfulness You reward Your people and make an everlasting covenant with them. May their descendants be known in Rwanda as Yours. May all who see them acknowledge that they are a people that You have blessed. May they delight greatly in You, LORD; may their souls rejoice in You, God. For You have clothed them with garments of salvation and arrayed them in a robe of righteousness (adapted from parts of Psalm 61).

LORD, please especially watch over and free them from darkness:

Perhaps list the first names or some names if possible so that they may be prayed over specifically (the more the better, and the names of the children)

LORD, thank You for Your faithfulness and goodness and concern for Your children. May Your Name alone be exalted in all the earth, in Rwanda, and in us.

In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.